Raspberry plant named ‘Elegance’

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct everbearing variety of raspberry plant named ‘ELEGANCE’. The new variety is primarily adapted to the growing conditions of the central coast of California and is characterized by the following: firm, glossy medium-red fruit of conic shape, even color, and very good flavor. Foliage is slightly to strongly concave, medium green; possessing medium to strong rugosity and mostly 3-foliate. Primocanes have a weak waxy coat, medium thorn density, and weak anthocyanin coloration. Time of production of the floricane crop is early.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Rubus idaeus.

Variety denomination: ‘ELEGANCE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct fall bearing raspberry variety designated as ‘ELEGANCE’. This new variety is a result of a controlled cross made in 2001 between raspberry variety ‘PS-1703’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,151) and raspberry variety ‘PS-1720’ (unpatented) in an ongoing breeding program. The variety is botanically known as Rubus idaeus.

The seedling resulting from the aforementioned cross was asexually propagated by dormant canes in Santa Cruz County, Calif., and was subsequently selected by the inventors from a controlled breeding plot in Watsonville, Calif. in 2003. After its selection, the new variety was further asexually propagated by dormant canes, roots and non-dormant root shoot cuttings in Santa Cruz County, Calif., San Joaquin County, Calif. and Siskiyou County, Calif. The new variety was then extensively tested over the next several years in fruiting fields in Santa Cruz County, Calif. This propagation has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein as characterizing the new variety are fixed and remain true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘ELEGANCE’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast of California. This region provides the necessary year-round temperatures required for it to produce and maintain a strong vigorous plant and to remain in fruit production from July through December on primocanes and in the ensuing year from May through July on the floricanes. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘ELEGANCE’, which in combination distinguish this raspberry plant as a new and distinct variety:

-   -   1. Early floricane time of fruiting;     -   2. Weak primocane glaucosity;     -   3. Light brown floricane color;     -   4. Predominant leaflet number of 3; and     -   5. Strong fruit gloss.

The raspberry varieties that are believed to be most closely related to the new raspberry variety ‘ELEGANCE’ are the raspberry variety ‘PS-1049’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,142), and the parental, raspberry variety ‘PS-1703’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,151). In comparison to the similar raspberry varieties ‘PS-1049’ and ‘PS-1703’, ‘ELEGANCE’ differs by the following combination of characteristics described in Table 1:

TABLE 1 ‘PS-1049’ ‘PS-1703’ Characteristic ‘ELEGANCE’ (US PP10,142) (US PP15,151) 1. Primocane waxy coat Weak Strong Ranges from (glaucosity) medium to strong 2. Predominate number of Mostly 3 Equal 3-5 Mostly 5 leaflets 3. Floricane time of fruiting Early Medium Medium 4. Floricane color RHS 161C RHS 166C RHS 164A Greyed-yellow Greyed-orange Greyed-orange group group group 5. Primocane lateral length (cm) 25.8 35.6 48.8 6. Primocane % of cane length 37% 42% 52% fruiting 7. Primocane color RHS 145A RHS 154C RHS 145D Yellow-green Yellow-green Yellow-green group group group 8. Color mature fruit RHS 47B RHS 46A RHS 53A Red group Red group Red group 9. Gloss mature fruit Strong Medium Strong

For identification, a series of AFLP molecular markers have been determined for this new variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of typical specimens of the new raspberry variety, ‘ELEGANCE’ at various stages of development as true as reasonably possible with color reproductions of this type. Color in the photographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describes the color of ‘ELEGANCE’. The depicted plant and plant parts of the new raspberry variety ‘ELEGANCE’ were taken in Watsonville, Calif. and are approximately 2 to 16 months old:

FIG. 1. shows typical primocane foliage and fruit color; foliate and rugosity characteristics of ‘ELEGANCE’, taken in the month of August 2008;

FIG. 2 shows typical primocane foliage and fruit color; foliate and rugosity characteristics of ‘ELEGANCE’, taken in the month of September 2008;

FIG. 3 shows typical harvested fruit of ‘ELEGANCE’, taken in the month of July 2009; and

FIG. 4 shows typical dormant cane color characteristics of ‘ELEGANCE’, taken in the month of February 2007.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

‘ELEGANCE’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The characteristics of the new variety may vary in detail, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type, and location.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following description of the new raspberry variety ‘ELEGANCE’, unless otherwise noted, are based upon observations taken during the 2008 to 2009 growing season in Watsonville, Calif. Primocane measurements and ratings were taken from plants of ‘ELEGANCE’ dug from a nursery located in Siskiyou County, Calif. during the middle of October 2007 and planted approximately 7 to 8 weeks later in Watsonville, Calif. The approximate age of the observed primocane plants is 7 to 8 months. Floricane measurements and ratings were taken from the same planting of ‘ELEGANCE’ at an approximate age of 16 to 18 months. Yield observations and fruit quality characteristics are averaged from three years of data collected from the 2006 through 2008 production seasons. Flower measurements and characteristics are from secondary flowers unless otherwise noted. Fruit characteristics and measurements are from secondary fruit unless otherwise noted. Foliage characteristics and measurements are from 3-foliate foliage unless otherwise noted.

Color terminology where noted follows The R.H.S. Colour Chart, Royal Horticultural Society, London, England 2007.

The following Tables 2-6 describe fruit, plant, foliage, flower and pest/disease characteristics of the new raspberry ‘ELEGANCE’ in comparison to the similar raspberry varieties ‘PS-1049’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,142) and ‘PS-1703’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,151).

TABLE 2 FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-1049’ ‘PS-1703’ Characteristic ‘ELEGANCE’ (US PP10,142) (US PP15,151) Color mature fruit RHS 47B RHS 46A RHS 53A Red group Red group Red group Color achenes RHS 164D RHS 164D RHS 164D Greyed-orange Greyed-orange Greyed-orange group group group Fruit Length (cm) 1.9 1.9 2.0 Fruit Width (cm) 1.8 1.8 1.9 Length/Width Ratio 1.0 1.1 1.1 Slightly longer Slightly longer Slightly longer than broad than broad than broad Seed weight (mg) 1.4 1.5 1.5 Druplets per berry 70 73 78 Fruit size Medium Medium Medium Predominant shape Conical Conical Conical Evenness of color Even Even Even Glossiness Strong Medium Strong Adherence to Weak to medium Weak Weak receptacle Firmness of flesh Very firm Very firm Firm Firmness of skin Very firm Very firm Medium Soluble Solids 9.5 9.2 10.3 (% brix) Flavor Very Good Good Excellent

TABLE 3 PLANT CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-1049’ ‘PS-1703’ Characteristic ‘ELEGANCE’ (US PP10,142) (US PP15,151) General: Habit Upright Semi-upright Semi-upright Size Medium Medium Medium Productivity Medium to high Medium to high High Self fruitfulness Yes Yes Yes Type of bearing Everbearing Everbearing Everbearing Primocane: Color RHS 145A RHS 154C RHS 145D Yellow-green Yellow-green Yellow-green group group group Length (m) 1.9 1.7 1.6 Basal diameter (mm) 12.1 14.8 12.4 Diameter central 1/3 (mm) 11.0 11.9 11.4 Lateral length (cm) 25.8 35.6 48.8 No. fruiting laterals 20 16 19 per cane % of cane length fruiting 37% 42% 52% Internode length at 5.8 5.2 4.8 central 1/3 (cm) Anthocyanin coloration RHS 59B RHS 59C RHS 59B Anthocyanin intensity Weak Weak to medium Medium to strong Pubescence Absent Absent Absent Length of vegetative bud Short Medium to short Medium to short Strength of waxy coat Weak Strong Ranges from medium to strong Time of flowering Medium Medium Early Time of fruiting Medium Medium Early Length of fruiting season Long Long Long % of total yield 42% 47% 47% Flowering period Late June to Late June to Early June to late November late November late November Harvest period Late July to Late July to Early July to late December late December late December Primocane fruit weight (g) 2.6 2.6 2.9 Primocane yield (g/plant) 1,587 1,862 2,241 Young Shoots: Number Medium Medium Medium Anthocyanin coloration Present Present Present Anthocyanin intensity Weak to Very weak to Weak to medium weak medium Thorns: Color RHS 59B RHS 59B RHS 59B Red-purple Red-purple Red-purple group group group Length at central 1/3 (mm) 1.5 2.4 1.8 Presence on cane Present Present Present Density on cane Medium Medium Medium to dense Texture Rigid Rigid Rigid Attitude of the tip Horizontal Horizontal Horizontal Floricane: Color RHS 161C RHS 166C RHS 164A Greyed-yellow Greyed-orange Greyed-orange group group group Length (M) 1.5 1.3 1.3 Length vegetative bud Short Medium to short Medium to short Strength of waxy coat Weak Strong Ranges from (glaucosity) medium to strong Fruiting lateral attitude Erect to semi- Erect to semi- Horizontal to erect erect drooping Time of bud burst Medium-Early Medium Medium Time of flowering Medium-Early Medium Medium Time of fruiting Early Medium Medium Length of fruiting season Medium to long Medium to long Medium to long % of total yield 58% 53% 53% Flowering period Late March to Late April to Mid April to Late June Late June Late June Harvest period Mid April to Late May to Early May to Late July Late July Late July Floricane fruit weight (g) 2.7 2.5 2.9 Floricane yield (g/plant) 2,199 2,145 2,497

TABLE 4 FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-1049’ ‘PS-1703’ ‘ELEGANCE’ (US PP10,142) (US PP15,151) Characteristic (3 Foliate) (3 Foliate) (5 Foliate) General: Color of upper surface RHS 139A RHS 138A RHS N137A Green group Green group Green group Color of lower surface RHS 190B RHS 190C RHS 190B Greyed-green Greyed-green Greyed-green group group group Shape in cross section Ranges from Slightly concave Ranges from slightly concave to slightly convex to strongly concave slightly concave Arrangement Compound Compound Compound Relief between veins Medium to strong Medium Medium to strong Glossiness Weak Weak Medium Number of leaflets/leaf Mostly 3 Equal 3-5 Mostly 5 Terminal Leaflet: Length(cm) 11.1 12.2 10.7 Width (cm) 7.2 8.0 5.3 Length/Width Ratio 1.5 1.5 2.0 Longer than broad Longer than broad Much longer than broad Size Medium to large Medium to large Medium to small Shape Lobed cordate Cordate Lobed oblique Shape of base Cordate Cordate Acute Shape of tip Acuminate Acuminate Acuminate Margins Biserrate Biserrate Biserrate Lateral Leaflet: Length (cm) 9.2 9.9 9.5 Width (cm) 5.6 6.1 5.5 Rachis length (cm) 1.6 2.8 1.7 Orientation Opposite Opposite Opposite Arrangement Compound Compound Compound Shape Ovate Ovate Oblique Overlapping Touching Touching Free Shape of the base Acute obtuse Oblique rounded Acute oblique Shape of the tip Acuminate Acuminate Acuminate Margins Biserrate Biserrate Biserrate Petiole: Length (cm) 3.9 4.4 5.3 Width (mm) 2.7 2.4 2.7 Thorn presence Yes Yes Yes Thorn orientation Erect Erect Erect Anthocyanin coloration Red-purple Red-purple Greyed-purple of upper surface RHS 60A RHS 58A RHS 187B Intensity of anthocyanin Weak Weak Strong coloration Pigmentation of Yellow-green Yellow-green Yellow-green lower surface RHS 145B RHS 145C RHS 145C Stipule length (cm) 0.9 0.9 0.9 Stipule orientation Erect Erect Erect

TABLE 5 FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-1049’ ‘PS-1703’ Characteristic ‘ELEGANCE’ (US PP10,142) (US PP15,151) Petal color RHS 155C RHS 155C RHS 155C White group White group White group Flower diameter (cm) 1.6 1.8 1.5 Petal Length (mm) 6.4 6.1 6.0 Petalwidth(mm) 3.2 3.1 3.0 Petal length/width 2.0 2.0 2.0 ratio Much longer Much longer Much longer than broad than broad than broad No. petals/flower 5.2 5.1 5.3 No. sepals/flower 5.2 5.1 5.3 Pedicel no. spines Many Many Medium Peduncle anthocyanin Present Present Present presence Peduncle anthocyanin RHS 60A RHS 59C RHS 187C color Red-purple Red-purple Greyed-purple group group group Peduncle anthocyanin Weak Very weak Weak intensity

TABLE 6 PEST AND DISEASE REACTIONS ‘PS-1049’ ‘PS-1703’ Characteristic ‘ELEGANCE’ (US PP10,142) (US PP15,151) Two spotted spider Susceptible Susceptible Susceptible mite Grey fruit mold Susceptible Susceptible Susceptible Powdery mildew Moderately Moderately Moderately Susceptible Susceptible Susceptible Yellow rust Moderately Moderately Moderately Resistant Susceptible Resistant 

1. A new and distinct Rubus idaeus variety of raspberry plant named ‘ELEGANCE’, as herein described and illustrated by the characteristics set forth above. 